North Central STEM Region September 14, 2022

Nominate an Outstanding Iowa STEM Teacher!

Every day, exceptional STEM educators across the state are helping prepare students for exciting, high-demand careers. Their passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics is shaping the future through the next generation of Iowans.  Does that sound like a teacher you know? Nominate them today for the 2023 Iowa STEM Teacher Award, sponsored by Kemin Industries!  Now in its ninth year, this award recognizes leadership and dedication that increases student interest in, and awareness of, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The award is given to one licensed, full-time, PreK-12 teacher from each of Iowa’s six STEM regions. Recipients receive $1,500 for their classroom and $1,500 for personal use. For this award, a full-time teacher is defined as an educator who spends at least 75% of their working hours (approximately 30 hours, minimum) in the classroom–both virtually and in-person–interacting with students. Nominations for previous award recipients and self-nominations will not be accepted.  The deadline to submit nominations is Tuesday, October 11, at 11:59 p.m. CDT. Recipients will be announced in early 2023. The nomination process is simple and open to everyone, including fellow teachers, school administrators, students, and parents. Visit www.iowastem.org/teacheraward-application  to learn more and submit your nomination.

Congratulations Jamie Pudenz!! Jamie Pudenz, agricultural science teacher at Aplington-Parkersburg High School, leverages partnerships to create hands-on learning opportunities for his students.  challenges his students to think differently, focusing on the process of working toward an answer, rather than just the answer itself. In an engineering course, he challenges students to design and build a working backhoe with plastic syringes, tuning, wooden dowels and cardboard.  In 2020, Pudenz completed an Iowa STEM Teacher Externship with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at the Big Marsh Wildlife Management Area. That experience inspired a new natural resources and environmental management course at Aplington-Parkersburg High School. Students work directly with the Iowa DNR to contribute to projects like population and disease tracking in local wildlife. In 2021, Pudenz and his plant science students met with Dr. Michael Bechtel, an associate professor of science at Wartburg College, to explore aquaponics: an approach to food production where plants are cultivated in water rather than soil. The collaboration helped the class overcome challenges they were facing, allowing them to build their own aquaponics system in the course. Jamie Pudenz was recognized, along with the other regions' recipients, at the Iowa State Fair. From all of us, we congratulate you and your efforts as an advocate of STEM in the North Central STEM region!

Computer Science is Elementary Offers Blueprints and Mentors

Blueprints The 13 schools involved with the Computer Science is Elementary (CS is E) group have completed their 3 year project. The schools were asked to provide a Blueprint of their programs so other schools beginning to create their Computer Science Curriculum would have a resource to utilize. The Blueprints contain the program's professional development, connection to standards, community engagement, business partnerships, budgets, and computer science scope and sequence for grades K-5.   To see these blueprints, please click here.   Mentors Offered Mentors have been established from the CS is E awarded schools. The mentors will provide guidance and support to other elementary schools across the state that are creating and implementing their Computer Science plans for their district in line with the Department of Education legislative requirements.   Click here to request a mentor visit:  https://bit.ly/CSEMentorshipRequest

Registration is Now Open for the 2022 Future Ready Iowa Summit

The Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council will be hosting the the 2022 Future Ready Iowa Summit on September 21. The Summit brings together Iowans from business and industry, education, nonprofits, elected officials, students and others to amplify the public conversation about solutions for connecting education and the workforce. AGENDA   Keynote speakers include Astronaut Raja Chari from Waterloo (invited) and MacArthur "Genius" Dr. Lisa Schulte-Moore of Iowa State University (confirmed) Iowa futurists interviewed live by Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell Presentations from Iowa leaders sharing resources and supports for your innovation Exciting people and projects presenting a slew of options for Iowans to be Future Ready Showcasing 30+ local innovations in education and workforce development   Admission is free of charge. Free license renewal credit and substitute teacher reimbursement is available for practicing PreK-12 educators. Learn more at: https://iowastem.org/2022Summit

Our first regional STEM Festival of the year has been set! Join us for an afternoon of fun and engaging hands-on STEM activities. If you or your employer are interested in exhibiting at the festival, please go to this link to register!

Regional STEM Spotlight

Clear Lake Community School District STEM education is front and center at Clear Lake Community School District. Over the course of the past few years they have incorporated numerous Project Lead the Way Courses beginning in preschool and continuing into the high school. In the middle school and high school there is a plethora of STEM courses to choose from for students including automotive courses and construction trades courses. Upperclassmen who have completed required courses also have opportunities to complete welding and construction apprenticeships. Clear Lake Community Schools have also been the recipient of several Scale-Up awards as well as being a STEM Best recipient. Way to go Clear Lake CSD!

Interested in Joining the Advisory Board? We are actively seeking members who represent: Community Colleges K-12 Parents Non-profit/Informal Learning Environments If interested, apply here!

Upcoming STEM Events!

September 21 Future Ready Iowa Summit October 8 ICCC STEAMfest October 17 NC Advisory Board Meeting Know of other STEM events in North Central Iowa? Email us at: ncstem@iastate.edu

Connect with us! NC Regional Manager: Mauree Haage Website: https://ncstemhub.iastate.edu Email: ncstem@iastate.edu Phone: 515-294-0645 Address: NC STEM Hub Extension 4-H Building 1259 Stange Road Ames, IA 50011 ‌ ‌ ‌